Summary for Field Activity Number 1982-025-FA

Alternate Leg ID: OC124; BLM-M-5; BTF M-5

Area of Operations: Georges Bank, Lydonia Canyon, Oceanographer Canyon, United States, North America, North Atlantic

Dates: July 21, 1982 to July 28, 1982

Objectives: Cruise BLM M-5 was the fifth in the series of seasonal benthic sampling cruises performed as part of the Georges Bank Lease No. 42 Environmental Monitoring Program. The major emphasis of the program is to determine the extent of deposition and accumulation of potentially toxic materials as a results of oil drilling activities and any subsequent effects on the benthic biota. Sediment samples were collected for analysis of benthic infauna and epifauna, trace metal and hydrocarbon analysis, CHN, and sediment grain-size analyses; and camera stations were occupied to record microtopography and visible macrofauna.

Type of Activity: Sampling
Photography

Information to be derived: Samples and chemical analysis

Summary: Excellent weather conditions allowed work to be completed at all stations without interruptions. The majority of samples collected were 0.1 m sq. and 0.04 m sq. Van Veen grab samples for biological and/or chemical analysis. At each regional station six 0.04 m sq. biology grab samples and three 0.1 m sq. geology/chemistry grab samples were taken. Dredge and trawl sampling was carried out using a Rocking Chair Dredge for Arctica islandica, and a Yankee 36 trawl was used for collecting fish. Also, surface and bottom water samples for salinity, bottom water samples for dissolved oxygen and XBT casts were made at all regional stations. A malfunction of the shipboard XBT plotter prevented an XBT reading at Station 5-1. Therefore, surface and bottom temperatures were recorded from water bottle samples taken at Station 5-1, and an extra XBT cast was made at Station 5-6 for temperature data. Sediment samples: 417; DO: 19; Salinity: 38; XBT: 19; Camera: 37; Dredge: 6; Otter trawl: 3.

USGS Project Number: BLM M-5

Contact: Rick Rendigs (rrendigs@usgs.gov)